Ball washer

ABSTRACT

AN APPARATUS FOR WASHING GOLF BALLS OR THE LIKE HAS AN ELEVATED SCRUBBING DRUM, A HOPPER BELOW THE DRUM, A CHUTE FOR GOLF BALLS TO ROLL FROM THE HOPPER, A WHEEL OVER THE CHUTE FOR PROPELLING GOLF BALLS UPWARDLY TOWARDS THE DRUM, A PIPE FOR INTERCEPTING THE BALLS WHILE IN FLIGHT AND MEANS FOR DIVERTING THE GOLF BALLS INTO THE DRUM.

United States Patent 1191 Gustafson et al.

[ June 28, 1974 [54] BALL WASHER 2,964,204 12/1960 Wilson 198/128 x 3,120,669 2/1964 Montuori 1 15/21 A X [76] Inventors: August Gustafsm; Edna 3,602,362 8/1971 Jacobson 198/128 Gustafson, f 350 Pasadena 3,733,633 /1973 Gustafson..- 15/21 A Pl., Corpus Chr1st1, Tex. 7841 l 22 Filed; 9 973 Primary ExaminerEdward L. Roberts Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clelle W. Upchurch [211 Appl. No.: 352,625

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl 15/21 A, l5/3.2, 198/128 An apparatus for washing golf balls or the like has an [51 Int. Cl A631) 47/04 elevated scrubbing drum, a hopper below the drum, a [58] Field of Search 1. 15/21 A, 97, 3.13, 3.16, chute for golf balls to roll from the hopper, a wheel l5/3.19, 3.2, 3.21; 198/128 over the chute for propelling golf balls upwardly towards the drum, a pipe for intercepting the balls [56] References Cited while in flightand means for diverting the golf balls UNITED STATES PATENTS Into the drum. 1,231,100 6/1917 Trunk'et al. 15/21 A 8 Claims, Drawing Figures 1o 69 i 68 Y 67 51% a 1 r' 11 \ll G B8 11 L4 I09 66 E 73 7B 65 64 NT IL 8'2 5 K I '1.V"\'i I L-" 1 v E1 '9 107 :7 M

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SHEU 3 OF 5 PATENTED JUN 2 3 I saw u M 6 I3 8 2 0. l 8 3 PATENTEDJUR28 E9114 I 11820. 1 83 sum 5 0F 6 BALL WASHER This invention relates generally to ball cleaning apparatus and more particularly to an improved apparatus adapted for cleaning golf balls or the like in large quantities with a minimum of physical exertion by the operator.

The heretofore available golf ball washing apparatuses have the disadvantage that the hopper from which the balls move to the washing unit is elevated so the balls can roll from the hopper. Consequently, the operator must often lift heavy containers of balls to uncomfortable heights while charging the hopper with balls to be cleaned. Such an arrangement of hopper and washing unit also frequently limits the size of the container to avoid an excessively heavy container of balls.

Itis an object of this invention to provide a ball washing apparatus which has a hopper for balls to be cleaned and a washing unit or scrubber which can be operated without lifting containers of the balls to uncomfortable or dangerous heights. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having a hopper for dirty balls disposed below a scrubbing or washing drum and mechanical means for elevating the balls from hopper to drum in single file one after the other. A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for cleaning golf balls having a scrubbing drum which does not have interior moving parts. Still another object of the invention is to provide a ball washer having a hopper for dispensing balls which embodies a means for agitating the balls in the hopper to avoid bridging above the discharge channel through which the balls roll one after the other. A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for. washing golf balls or the like which is adapted to reject stones, half balls and the like between the hopper and the washing drum.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for cleaning golf balls at a reduced cost in handling the golf balls before and after they are cleaned.

Other objects will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the discharge end of the em bodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the entrance end of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the entrance end of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged view illustrating the driving mechanism for the scrubbing drum at its discharge end;

FIG. 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 10 is a section taken along the line 10--10 of FIG. 5.

The foregoing objects and others are accomplished in accordance with this invention, generally speaking, by

providing an apparatus for washing golf balls or the like having a rotatable drum with a brush-like lining disposed over a hopper with a means for elevating the balls from the hopper to the washing drum by centrifugal force. More specifically, the invention provides an apparatus having a scrubbing drum, means for wetting the balls as they enter the drum, a hopper under the drum for storing balls to be cleaned and a means for transporting the balls from the hopper to the drum having an open chute or passageway over which the balls roll from the hopper in single file one after the other, a wheel disposed above the passageway adapted to engage the balls as they roll on the track and carry them in an arcuate direction as it rotates and to propel them upwardly towards an open end of the drum, and means for diverting the upwardly moving balls into the drum. A tube or pipe is disposed with a bottom open end above the wheel adapted to intercept the balls while they are in flight upwardly'from the wheel. An arcuate shaped padding is disposed over the top end of the pipe to stop the vertical movement of the balls and cause them to drop on a trough-like tract which slopes downwardly into the scrubber. A tank for water or other cleaning fluid may be supported by the frame of the apparatus between the hopper and scrubbing drum. Means is provided for pumping water from the sump over the balls as they enter the scrubbing drum. In a preferred embodiment, two belts secured around the periphery of the drum adjacent to each end thereof act as cushions and guides for the drum as it is rotated by pulleys driven by an electric motor. A discharge trough-like guide is provided at the exit end of the scrubber which carries the cleaned balls to a container which may be resting on the floor. Hence, it is not necessary to lift containers of balls before or after washing.

Referring now to the drawing (FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6), a hopper 10 is supported near the floor on a parallelepiped shaped tubular metal frame 11 having four end upright struts 12, 13, 14 and 15, welded at the top to the ends of upper side members 16 and 17 and top end cross members 18 and 19, and welded at their lower ends to bottom side members 20 and 21 and bottom end members 22 and 23. One side panel 24 of hopper 10 is bolted to intermediate horizontal side member 25 welded at one end to upright strut l2 and at the other end to upright strut 13. Side panel 24 is substantially vertical and integral with a downwardly sloping bottom panel 26 which terminates in a downwardly extending substantially vertical flange 27. As illustrated in FIG. 10, a second side panel 28 of hopper 10 is welded to a longitudinal strap 29. A sloping bottom panel 30 which also terminates at one side in a downwardly extending substantially vertical flange 31 is welded to a longitudinal strap 32 spaced laterally from strap 29 to leave a rectangularly shaped opening 34 therebetween. Rods 33 are secured at one end to strap 29 and at the other end to strap 32 and are spaced longitudinally from each other less than the diameter of a golf ball to close opening 34 against loss of golf balls. Flanges 27 and 31 are laterally spaced from each other about one-fourth inch greater than the diameter of a golf ball to provide a longitudinally extending channel 35 in the bottom of hopper 10. A longitudinally extending bar 39 supported on cross-members 22 and 23 is disposed below channel 35 and centered between flanges27 and 31 to support golf balls in channel 35. End panels 36 and 37 complete the enclosure of hopper 10. Hopper 10 extends outwardly from frame 11 so that opening 34 is external of the frame in order that the hopper is easily accessible for charging golf balls therein. The bottom slopes towards channel 35 so golf balls will roll towards the channel. The bottom also slopes towards the front end of the apparatus so golf balls in channel 35 will roll in single file towards the exit endof hopper 10. Hopper 10 is closed at its elevated end and has an opening 37A in its lower 8 end (FIG. 5) closed by a roller 38.

A trough-like passageway 40 is inclined downwardly ,from the open end of channel35 (FIGS. 1 and 5). R01- ler 38 is substantially cylindrical and carries on its surface spiral ribs 41 and 42 which extend partially around its periphery and urgeballs towards the center of the V hopper over channel 35. Roller 38 rotates clocks-wise a when viewed from the side of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and from the end of the roller as seen in FIG. 5. The cylindrical body of roller 38 and ribs41 and 42 may be metal and the positioning of roller 38 in the opening 37A is such that ribs 41 and42 strike golfballs and tend to break-up bridging of the balls abovechannel 35. The outwardly bent portion of end panel 37 acts as a baffle to keep the. balls in hopper 1'0, (;FIG. The end of trough 40 is welded toran arcuate shaped troughlike guide member 43 secured by strap 44 to i crossmember 23. Shaft 45 of roller 38 is journaledat each end in bearings 46 and47 supported on frontend panel 37 of'hopper 10.

A'wheel 50 whichmay be conveniently an; automo bile wheel with; a pneumatic tire mounted ithereon is carriedby shaft 51 which isjjournaled in bearingsSZ and 53 on struts 54 andSS. Wheel SO'is disposed above arcuate shaped trough 43 andfin such spaced relationshiptherewiththat a golf ball in trough 43-willbe en-.

gaged by wheel 50 and rotated therewithjthrough'arcuate shaped trough 43-as illustrated in FIG.,5.* 1

As best illustrated in-FIGS. 1 and 5 an elongated tube or pipe 56 has an open bottom end57 disposed above arcuate member 43 and an opposite elevated open end 58. A collar 59 secures arcuate shaped rub,-

on the end of shaft 78 for rotation therewith has ,belt 81 looped thereabout. Belt 81 is also looped about a pulley wheel 120 fixed on the shaft of roller 38.

. That end of drum adjacent to trough 66, the entrance-end thereof, is elevatedabove horizontalso that golf balls entering from trough 66 tend to roll to the exit end of the rotating drum 65 onto three longitudinally spaced arcuate rods which form a grating (FlG. 2) which extends across and below the opening in the exit end of drum 65 to a downwardly sloping discharge chute 86. As'shown in FIGS. 1' and 3 a sloping horizontal rod 87 prevents the golf balls. from rolling over the side of the grating and UI-shap'ed rod 88 supports the elevated end of rods 85. An inclined trough 89 is disposed under rods 85 and carries water dripping" form the balls back into' a tank 90. r

. Tank is disposed intermediate drum 65 and hopper 10. Tank .90, is secured to the upper side frame members 16 and 17 by straps 91, 92, 93 and 94. Tank 90-is semicylindrical; Pump is supported in tank 90 by anadjustable strap 96. Strap96- is composed of two pieces which are bolted together through longitudinally spaced openings 97. That end of strap 96 spaced from pump 95 is pivotally mounted on a vertically disposed strap 98 by pin 99. The oppositeendof strap 98' is welded to a generally U-shaped crossibar 1'00 which is pivotally secured to struts 48 and 49 by bolts 101 and. I '8 Motor base plate'1'03ji's bolted to cross+member s (FIGJS). Abolt104extendsgthrough anjopeningin up r standing strap; "and through an opening: in base: plate 103. Strap 1051s welded toastrut;49 Qonipression spring 106 on bolt104-1urgsmotcr baseplate .103

towards strap 105 and tend's to elevate motor 84A belt loopedabout double drive pulley I82Lon shaft 2330f motor 84 andpulley wheelsl 1J0 Qrpu mp 95dri v'es the 1 pump. As belt 107wears spring1 06 lifts motor 84' and automatically keeps belt 107 tauLA, hose 109 carries water from pump 95 to above trough where water is sprayed over balls just before they enter drunr65. Ex-

- cesswater flows into drum 6S.

ber guide member 60 over the elevated end S8'of tube a 56. Tube 56 is secured in a slightlyinclined positionto strap 61 by clevis 62 and to cross-member 18 by clevis 63 and strap 64. i g

Cylindrical drum 65 is dispoed above hopper 10. An inclined trough 66 extends from the elevated open end of tube56 below rubber guide member 60 to carry. golf 7 balls into an open end of drum 65. Drum 65 has longitudinally spaced belts 67 and 68 secured to the'outer peripheral surface thereof at one end and belts 69 and 70 secured to the surface at the other end. The inner surface of drumv 65 is lined with a plastic material'having a backing a protruding filaments suchas, for exam-' ple, an artificial grass sold by Monsanto Company v. under thetrade mark Astr,oturf.j As illustrated in the drawing, drum 65 has end members 71 and 72 each having an opening therein for passage of golf balls.

Drum 65 is supported on belts 67 and 68 secured to its surface in pulleys 73 and 74 at one end and belts 69 and.70 in pulley/s75 and 76 at the opposite-endA round belt77 is looped about pulleywheels75 and 76 at the discharge end of drum. 65 to transfer rotarymotion from shaft 78 to shaft 79. Pulleywheels 73 and 75 are fixed to shaft 78 for rotation therewith'whi-lepulley,

wheels 74 and 76 on the oppositeside :ofdruin 65are I fixedfor rotation withshaft79. A-pulley wheel fixed Referring now to FIGS. 1. and 4,.a belt 1110 is looped about the double pulley wheel 82 on motor shaft 83 7 and about one of double pulley'wheelslll'fixed on shaft 51 of wheel 50 to rotate wheel'50 counterclock- 9 Wise as viewed in FIG. 5. A. belt 112 is looped about pulley wheel lll'over pulley wheel ll3 f 'and about idler a wheel 114. Belt 112 imparts: rotation to pulley wheel 113 and causes shaft 45 and roller 38 to rotate clockwise as viewed inFIGS. 1. and SLIdlerwheeI 114 is jou rnaled on vertical strap 1 15 pivotally-secured at its, other end to a bracket 116welded to side member 20. A rod 1 17 secured in an eyelet 1.19 on strut 12 at one end and a spring'1l8' secured to its opposite end urge strap 115' to the left as viewed, in FIGHT to keep belt 112 taut.

In operation, motor 84. isstarted after tank 90 is filled 7 with. water and hopper l0 contains golf balls; Loosely 81 to rotate pulley 80 fixed on shaft 78. Rotary motion is imparted to pulleys 73 and 75 and through belt 77 to pulleys 74 and 76 fixed to shaft 79. Rotation of pulley wheels 73, 74, 75 and 76 rotates drum 65 in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 7.

Golf balls roll through trough 40 until they are picked up by wheel 50 which carries them around arcuate member 43 and throws them through tube 56. At the top of tube 56 the balls strike rubber pad 60 and drop into trough 66. The balls then roll into rotating drum 65 where they are scrubbed by the grass-like plastic lining therein. The balls are carried by sloping drum 65 to the exit end and are discharged on rods 85 where water drips therefrom into trough 89 which carries it back to tank 90. The balls roll through a discharge chute 86 into a suitable container.

It can be seen from the foregoing that the invention realizes its objectives. The balls are charged to a hopper near the floor so lifting of heavy containers full of balls is avoided. The discharge chute 86 carries the cleaned balls to a basket or other container which may also be near or on the floor so lifting of containers full of balls to undesirable heights is again avoided. At most driving ranges the golf balls are picked-up from the ground in relatively large baskets. The operator must bucket or shovel the balls into small buckets or hoppers at the top of the washing device. As is apparent from the foregoing description, a cart used to transport the golf balls can be backed-up to hopper l0 and the balls dumped directly into the hopper. The washed balls may be transferred by chute 86 directly to a storage bin for clean balls. Hence, the invention provides an apparatus for washing golf balls or the like which eliminates extra equipment and extra handling by receiving the balls near the floor level and discharging them from the apparatus into a chute sufficiently elevated that the balls will roll to a storage bin or other container.

Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that those skilled in the art can make changes therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as it may be limited by the claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An apparatus adapted for cleaning golf balls and the like comprising a rotatable drum having a brushlike lining, a hopper below the drum, and means for moving balls from the hopper to the drum comprising a rotatable wheel disposed on a shaft above a passageway for balls rolling from the hopper, the distance between the wheel and passageway being less than the diameter of the balls, said passageway terminating in an arcuate shaped member which is substantially concentric with the periphery of the wheel and extends upwardly about the wheel to above the shaft, an elongated tube having a first open end positioned above the wheel to receive balls discharged from between the wheel and the end of the arcuate shaped member and a second elevated open end adjacent to an end of the drum, means for diverting balls emerging from the elevated end into the drum, means for rotating the drum and the wheel, said drum sloping downwardly from its entrance end to its opposite end, and means for conveying balls emerging from the drum to a receptable below the drum.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hopper has an opening in the bottom thereof closed against passage of balls therethrough by spaced rods through which dirt and other foreign material mixed with the balls can fall from the hopper.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the hopper and drum are mounted on a frame and that side of the hopper having said rods projects outwardly from the frame for easy access to the hopper.

4. The apparatus fo claim 1 comprising means for wetting the balls before they enter the drum.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hopper is inclined towards the wheel, the end of the hopper adjacent to the wheel has an opening therein, the bottom of the hopper has a channel extending longitudinally therethrough adapted to receive balls in single file and a roller having a pair of ribs thereon closes the opening above the channel, said roller being adapted to rotate in a direction whereby the ribs move upwardly in the opening and strike balls in the hopper from below to break up bridging of the balls, and means for rotating the roller.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hopper is inclined towards the wheel, the end of the hopper adjacent to the wheel has an opening therein, the bottom of the hopper has a channel extending longitudinally therethrough adapted to receive balls in single file and a roller having a pair of ribs thereon closes the opening above the channel, said roller being adapted to rotate in a direction whereby the ribs move upwardly in the opening and strike balls in the hopper from below to break up bridging of the balls, means for rotating the roller, an arcuate shaped means attached to the elevated end of the tube to stop upward flight of the balls and a trough under the said arcuate shaped means for carrying the balls into the drum, a tank between the drum and hopper, means for delivering water from the tank above the trough and over balls thereon, and means for diverting water emerging from the drum with cleaned balls into the tank.

7. In a golf ball or the like cleaning apparatus having a source of golf balls and a ball washing drum thereabove, means for elevating the balls from the hopper to the drum comprising a trough-like means for golf balls to roll over in single file, a rotatable wheel spaced above the trough less than the diameter of the ball, said I trough terminating in an arcuate shaped member substantially concentric with the wheel, a tube disposed above the trough to intercept balls thrown from between the arcuate shaped trough end and the wheel by centrifugal force as the wheel rotates and to convey the balls to a point adjacent to an open end of the drum, and means for conveying the balls into the drum.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a trough means is provided at the exit end of the drum to convey balls to a suitable container below the drum. 

